Numerical investigation of non-uniform arrays of directive antennas for radiation pattern analysis using spatial modulation schemes

Abstract This research presents a novel Non-Uniform Array (NUA) design for Spatial Modulation (SM) systems, aiming to improve Bit Error Rate (BER) performance. The NUA utilizes directional antennas with low-similarity radiation patterns, enabling the receiver to effectively distinguish between signals transmitted from different antenna elements. This enhanced signal discrimination capability directly contributes to improved system capacity and potential spectral efficiency gains for massive MIMO systems employing SM techniques. The proposed NUA was optimized for operation at 5.2 GHz, achieving a high degree of pattern distinguishability. Measured results confirm the effectiveness of the design, demonstrating good agreement with simulations. Moreover, an analysis based on the similarity of the radiation pattern was conducted